Watch the Video to see if you might want to make Shredded Beef Tacos with Spicy Slaw and Avocado!

For Friday Favorites every week I’m reminding you about my very favorite recipes out of the more than 2,000 recipes on this site. And since Cinco de Mayo is next week, I thought I’d share my favorite recipe for shredded beef tacos. As much as I love my easy slow cooker ground beef taco meat (and make it regularly) shredded beef tacos are the ones I love most.

Slow cooker (or Instant Pot) shredded beef tacos are a recipe idea with endless variations, but what makes me crazy over these Shredded Beef Tacos with Spicy Slaw and Avocado is the addition of spicy slaw and avocado. I love the spicy slaw that comes with fish tacos, and that spicy cabbage mixture was so delicious in these tacos. And don’t you love sneaking some healthy cabbage into a taco recipe?

How to Make Shredded Beef Taco Meat in the Instant Pot:

I cooked the spicy shredded beef you see in these photos in the slow cooker, but if you prefer to make the shredded beef in the Instant Pot, you can use instructions similar to my recipe for Instant Pot Low-Carb Southwestern Pot Roast to make the meat! I’ll summarize the Instant Pot method in the actual recipe below in this post.

How to Make Shredded Beef Tacos with Spicy Slaw and Avocado:

(Scroll down for complete recipe including Instant Pot version and nutritional information.)

I used boneless chuck roast for the meat. Cut the meat in several pieces and rub all the pieces with steak seasoning.

I know some of you don’t like to brown the meat when you’re cooking it in the slow cooker, but I promise it makes a huge difference in the flavor.

While the meat browns, mix together salsa, diced green chiles, lime juice, taco seasoning, and a tiny bit of salt to make the cooking sauce. I used my favorite Pace Picante Sauce (affiliate link), but any salsa without added sugar would be good.

Put browned meat in the slow cooker, pour sauce over, and cook on low until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork, about 6 hours.

Here’s how meat looked in my slow cooker when it was done, swimming in sauce.

Remove pieces of meat to a cutting board, put the sauce in a small pan, and simmer over medium heat until the sauce has thickened and reduced by about half.

While the sauce is reducing, use a fork to pull the meat apart, and put it back in the slow cooker so it stays warm.

Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan and brown the meat well on all sides, about 8 minutes total browning time.

While the meat browns, mix together the salsa, diced green chiles, lime juice, taco seasoning, and a little salt.

Put the browned meat into the slow cooker, pour the sauce over, and cook on low until the meat is tender and shreds apart easily, about 6 hours.

When the meat is done, remove it to a cutting board.

Pour the sauce mixture into a small pan and simmer on medium until the sauce thickens and reduces by about half, about 10 minutes.

Shred the meat apart with two forks and put it back in the slow cooker to keep warm.

When the sauce has reduced, mix it with the meat and continue to keep warm in the slow cooker.

Thinly slice and chop the cabbage and chop the cilantro.

Mix together the mayo, Greek yogurt and green Tabasco sauce to make the dressing and mix it with the cabbage.

Dice the avocados and toss with the lime juice.

Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and cook 2 or 3 tortillas at a time (whatever you can fit in the pan.)

Turn tortillas several times until they are just starting to get firm, then fold each one over in half to make a taco shell.

To assemble the tacos, spread 2-3 tablespoons of shredded beef on the bottom of a taco shell, top with a thin layer of slaw and a couple of spoonfuls of avocado.

Serve with extra piece of lime and more green Tabasco sauce to add at the table, if desired.

This meat freezes well and keeps well in the fridge, so don’t be afraid to double the recipe. If you’re making more meat to eat later in the week, I’d make the slaw and cut up the avocados right before you eat the leftovers, as those won’t keep that well. The meat can also be used to make burritos or eaten over lettuce for taco salad.

INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS: Trim meat and rub with Steak Rub as described above. Heat oil in the Instant Pot and brown the pieces of meat (in two batches if needed.) Mix the cooking liquid as described and add to Instant Pot with the browned meat. Lock lid, set to MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE, 35 minutes. Let Instant Pot release pressure naturally. Remove meat to a cutting board and set the instant pot to SAUTE or SIMMER, medium heat and cook the liquid for a few minutes to thicken and reduce (if needed.) Shred meat apart with two forks and put back into the Instant Pot to keep warm while you make slaw, chop avocados, and heat tortillas as above.

Notes

I used my Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Slow Cooker (affiliate link) for this recipe. If your slow cooker is much larger than that, I would recommend doubling the recipe so the slow cooker is at least half full. If you prefer to make the shredded beef in an Instant Pot, you can use my recipe for Instant Pot Low-Carb Southwestern Pot Roast to make the meat or follow my instructions above!

I used medium Pace Picante Sauce (affiliate link) for this recipe but if you have kids I would use mild. The diced green chiles are Anaheim chiles, not Jalapenos. You can use all mayo if you don't have Greek yogurt.

Nutritional information is calculated using net carbs for the low-carb tortillas I recommend.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
With low-carb tortillas like I used, Shredded Beef Tacos with Spicy Slaw and Avocado would be good for most low-carb eating plans, or eat with lettuce wraps if you want a version that’s Keto. Other low-carb ingredients like cabbage and avocados make these tacos a good choice for carb-conscious diets, but for the original South Beach diet it’s important to use whole wheat or low-carb flour tortillas and meat with less than 10% fat.

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Hi, Kalyn! I've followed your blog for years now! I've been thinking about tortillas — are these Mission Carb Balance your favorites for phase 2? Or did I miss a Kalyn's Picks on tortillas at some point? Thanks for this great site and all your efforts to help eat healthier!

I made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicous. Luckily we have leftover so we can have it again tomorrow. I used store bought taco seasoning, but I made your steak seasoning and it is amazing! I doubt I'll ever use anything else. Thanks for another great recipe. Having house guest soon and this will be perfect. Also, I didn't have a crockpot, and so I ordered the one you recommended. You're right, it's perfect for two and I love it.